From Monday to Thursday, the Audi and Mercedes-Benz DTM teams tested at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg and covered a distance representing the mileage of a trip nearly around half the world. During the course of second official DTM tests, all the drivers that are going to contest the season opener at Hockenheim, held on 17th May, 2009, were involved in the testing work. When it came to setting fastest lap times, the latest specs and the 2008 specs of the DTM vehicles alternated. Nonetheless, you will have to wait for the qualifying session for the first race to find out more about the true balance of power on the 2009 DTM grid. After all, it’s a well-known fact that the racing teams of the two premium-car manufacturers refuse to put all their cards on the table when testing together.

The final fastest lap time of the tests at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg was set on Thursday afternoon by Bruno Spengler. In the cockpit of the Salzgitter AMG Mercedes C-Class, the racing car of Gary Paffett, the Canadian crossed the line in 1:32.994 minutes. Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller finished second on the time sheets, 0.046 seconds behind Spengler. Third place of the final session was secured by Paul di Resta with the Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class. In the morning session, the Scot had clocked a 1:32.736-minute lap, the best time of the entire Hockenheim test.

Over the course of the four days of testing on the Hockenheimring’s Grand Prix circuit, the 19 DTM drivers racing for Audi and Mercedes-Benz completed a total of 3,898 laps, representing an impressive mileage of 21,341.55 kilometres or the distance of a travel around half the world on the level of the equatorial latitude. Mike Rockenfeller who completed 236 laps at the wheel of the 2008-spec Audi A4 DTM was the busiest of the drivers, followed by Spengler (220) and di Resta (217). Due to his crash (caused by a brake failure) on Monday, Denmark’s Christian Bakkerud had to settle for completing 98 laps and finished last, in this area.

The 100th DTM race since the series’ revival back in 2000 will be held at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg on 17th May. Tickets for the most popular international touring car series’ thrilling season kick-off are available here.